Dona Turner received her Bachelor of fine Arts from the University of Maryland, and her Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. She currently works as an illustrator and teaches Graphic design and Illustration to adults through UC Berkeley extension and California College of the Arts extended Ed. She lives in Oakland with her husband Robert and their Parson Russell Terrier, ZZ. My Cat Pearl was inspired by her real life cat, Pearl, who jumped on her desk, tore at her paper, and nibbled her pen while she worked.